Please log in

Register now for free

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

A valid e-mail address. All e-mails from the system will be sent to this address. The e-mail address is not made public and will only be used if you wish to receive a new password or wish to receive certain news or notifications by e-mail.

Top of the pile was the University of East Anglia, which boasted of its achievement via a series of posters announcing the victory at train stations across the country and a 30ft banner attached to a campus building - a picture of which was promptly tweeted by philosophy lecturer Toby Smith (@TobyOSmith).

Meanwhile, more than 2,400 people visited the university’s Facebook page to “like” a picture depicting about 50 students forming the shape of the figure “1”; comments from some 60 students and staff members offered congratulations, praised the university’s achievement and relished the opportunity to “rub it into Colchester” (home of regional rival the University of Essex).

However, the UEA Student Blog, run by the Union of UEA Students, sounds a more cautious note. “Our Student Experience is number 1. But For How Long?” it asks.

“We’re delighted that UEA has been voted number 1 in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey 2013, and we like to think the Union’s services and activities have a big role in your UEA life,” the blog states.

But it goes on to express concern about some of the things the union may have to cut because of funding difficulties. “The Union’s funding is steadily disappearing as revenue from our shops and bars is declining,” it warns.

Increased prices in the student shops and bars, reduced funding for travel to university sporting events and cuts to society budgets could be on the cards, it adds.

“There are no longer any other realistic options. We’ve already lost a lot of staff, saved money on utilities, generated more footfall in our shops and bars. We don’t have enough resource in communications or representation to cut back on. We will have to cut the things which we do to make your student experience so good,” it says.